Where those associated with Western films from around the world are laid to rest.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

RIP Anita Gordon

Anita Gordon 1929 - 2015

As a child star on radio, to "phantom singer"
for famous leading ladies in the movies to producer in television, Anita Gordon
spent the better part of her 85 years happily involved in all-things-musical.
She died peacefully on May 10, 2015 in Newhall, California after several years
of declining health.

Anita and her parents moved in 1935 from Texas to
Hollywood where she became successful on network radio. As a teenager, she sang
as a regular on ventriloquist Edgar Bergen's show (Edgar's famous dummy Charlie
McCarthy allegedly was smitten with her). She was the voice who said "I
don't talk to strangers.." on the Buddy Clark hit "Linda" in
1946, and voiced the part of the Singing Harp who helped Mickey Mouse escape
from the Beanstalk Giant with "in his right vest pocket you'll find a
key.." for Disney in 1947.

In the early days of television, Anita was a regular on
The Ken Murray Show, and later a featured singer on the Tennessee Ernie Ford
Show on ABC. In 1948, she married Dale Sheets, later an MCA/Universal
executive, and gave birth to three girls in the early 50's. In the 60's, she
appeared on various episodic television shows, then enjoyed a mini-career as
the "ghost singer" for various female movie stars in movie musicals,
including "State Fair" and "Paint Your Wagon." In the 70's,
she remarried, traveled, and in the 80's and 90's co-produced videos and wrote
music for various international clients including Philippine Airlines and
Continental Airlines. Her husband, El Chan was an international airline
executive and the couple traveled extensively.

She retired to Newhall, California in 2000, and is
survived by her husband, her three daughters, 9 grandchildren, and 21
great-grandchildren. Services will be held with family in Hawaii.

1 comment:

I always thought either Dinah Shore or Doris Day sang the part of the Singing Harp in Disney's Mickey and the Beanstalk. The two beautiful songs in that outstanding animated film gave the film its counterpoint at key moments: just before Happy Valley loses its lustre, and just before the big escape from the Giant's castle. Anita's voice gives just the right emphasis and tonality to these songs. It's a pity she wasn't more known. I will look for her when the Oscars roll photos and names of those from cinema we lost in 2015.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.